Keynsham-based building contractor Dribuild has pledged to raise £50,000 for its chosen charity of the year, Above & Beyond, which raises funds for Bristol’s city centre hospitals.
Dribuild, which works on blue-chip construction, shop-fitting, refurbishment and maintenance projects across the UK, recently formed a partnership with the charity to fund urgent new research into the treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) – a debilitating auto-immune illness.
The rare blood condition, which destroys platelets to cause potentially life-threatening bleeding, bruising and severe tiredness, affects an estimated three in 100,000 adults.
To hit is fundraising target, Dribuild has planned an extensive programme of events this year including a skydive, a five-day trek along Hadrian’s Wall and a day at Bath Racecourse, where the firm is a major corporate sponsor.
All money raised by the firm will go towards ground-breaking national research at Bristol’s hospitals which will benefit ITP patients across the UK.
Specifically, the funds will help to develop essential new blood tests to predict whether certain treatments will work and enable doctors to select the best route of patient treatment on an individual basis.
Dribuild managing director Matt Tyler said: “We’re really excited to be working with Above & Beyond to support Bristol’s hospitals, raising money for a cause that we feel passionate about.
“As a company it’s important to us that we give something back locally – so it’s great to know that the research into ITP will make a real difference both here in Bristol and on a national level for many years to come.”
Above & Beyond head of corporate partnerships, Lorna Clarke, added: “Charity of the Year partnerships with local businesses are essential in enabling us to fund key projects that go beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
“We are incredibly grateful to all the team at Dribuild for their commitment to making this research project a reality and helping to improve treatment for hundreds of patients affected by the debilitating condition ITP.”
Among local ITP patients is Miss Bristol Megan Abernethy-Hope, who has been receiving treatment at the Bristol Royal Infirmary for nearly two years.
She said: “Since being diagnosed with ITP my life’s been a complete rollercoaster. In a matter of hours my world was turned upside down and it makes you realise it can happen to anyone, yet so many people aren’t aware of the devastating impact ITP can have.
“It’s vital that we drive awareness about this illness which is why Dribuild’s fundraising efforts are so important. The new research would make all the difference and with the extra funding, Bristol’s hospitals can go above and beyond to develop new treatments.”
Each year Above & Beyond invest around £3m in projects in all eight Bristol city centre hospitals that make a real difference to patient care, including improving the hospital environment, funding innovative research, supporting and training hospital staff, and providing state-of-the-art equipment.
Businesses interested in making a difference to Bristol’s hospitals should contact Lorna Clarke on 0117 370 0842.
Pictured: Dribuild’s directors with Above & Beyond’s Lorna Clarke
